Celebrate Local Government Week 1-7 August

Join us to celebrate Local Government Week, Monday 1 – Sunday 7 August! We're hosting a range of great events and highlighting our Council grants.

Council Grants Program: Applications open

We are offering a range of grants through our annual Grants program to support programs or projects that contribute to a connected, liveable, vibrant and creative community in Woollahra.

The 2022/23 Grants program is open from Wednesday 27 July to Sunday 21 August, 2022, offering Community and Cultural grants up to $7500, Environmental grants up to $3,000 and Placemaking (events/place activation) grants up to $7,500.

Do you know a local club or organisation that might benefit from a grant? We're asking our local residents to spread the word about our grants program and pass this on to organisations which may be eligible.

For more information visit this page or apply now.

If you are considering applying for a 2022 grant and would like support and guidance for your application we are offering two information sessions:

• Wednesday 3 August 2022, 11:15am - 12:15pm Register here.
• Wednesday 3 August 2022, 6:00pm - 7:00pm Register here.

The Woollahra Garden Awards 2022

We are encouraging all residents, local businesses, school groups and community organisations to showcase their gardens – big or small by entering this year’s Woollahra Garden Awards. We want you to share your creativity, hard work and sustainable gardening practices with us.

Don’t miss your chance to win some great prizes. The overall winner will receive a $500 garden voucher. Category winners will also receive a great prize pack.

Entries close 14 October 2022. Winners will be announced in November. Find out more.

BYO Book Club

Drop in to the BYO Book Club where you can talk about what you've been reading, hear about what others have been reading, and chat with fellow book lovers and library staff over morning tea.

Paddington Library, Tuesday 2 August 2022, 10:30am - 11:30am

Free event. Register here.

Connecting Culture: Tracing Ancestors

August is National Family History Month. Join Melissa Jackson and Kerry-Ann Tape, First Nations family history specialists, for our Connecting Culture: Tracing Ancestors workshop -  for mob, and everyone interested. In this session we will introduce you to the State Library’s diverse family history collections.

This workshop will provide insight for anyone seeking a greater understanding of First Nations culture and history.

Join us for a family history yarn. A light lunch will be provided. This is a free event, but with limited numbers, bookings are essential.

Woollahra Library at Double Bay, Thursday August 4, 11.00am - 2.00pm

Free event. Bookings are essential. Book here.

Story time, Rhyme Time and Book Babies

Enjoy stories, rhymes, singing and dancing with your child at each of our Woollahra Library locations. This program runs weekly during the school term. Sessions in the week of 1-7 August (Local Government Week) are listed below.

Rhyme Time  (ages 3-5)

Woollahra Library at Double Bay, Monday 1 August, 10.00am and 11.00am and Tuesday 2 August, 3.30pm,

Watsons Bay Library, Thursday 4 August, 10.00am & 10:30am

Paddington Library, Thursday 4 August, 10.30am and 11.15am

Story Time

Watsons Bay Library, Tuesday 2 August, 10.30am - 11:30am

Woollahra Library at Double Bay, Wednesday 3  August, 10.30am - 11:30am

Paddington Library Friday 5 August, 10.30am - 11:30am and Sunday 7 August, 10.30am - 11:30am

Book Babies (ages 0 - 18 months)

Woollahra Library at Double Bay, Monday 1 August, 2:30pm - 3:00pm

Find out more.

The Pleasure of Looking and Seeing - An En Plein Air Workshop with Joanna Cole

Express yourself and interpret your view through lines and shapes at an outdoor drawing workshop on the terrace of the Cultural Hub at the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf and in the Blackburn gardens, weather permitting. A light weight, easy to carry starter’s watercolour painting kit, with bag and sketchbook will be provided. Please feel free to bring your preferred sketchbook, charcoals, led pencils or watercolour pencils if you wish. A demonstration and tips and tricks on keeping it relaxed will be provided by contemporary landscape artist Joanna Cole.

All welcome. No experience required.

Cultural Hub, ground floor at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, Wednesday 3 August, 1.00pm–3.00pm

Cost: $25 (includes materials) Book here.

Mini Makers: Marble Run STEAM Challenge (ages 5 - 10)

Create a marble maze run exploring physics, engineering, maths and design. Work as a team to improve speed, add jumps and beat time challenges. All materials provided.

Watsons Bay Library, Wednesday 3 August, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Free event. Register here.

Poetica Petit - a night of poetry

Join us for a night of words and music. Poetica MC Miriam Hechtman will host the night featuring poet and singer song writer Jessica Chapnik Kahn  as well as an open mic section to make it a truly special evening.

This event is for 18 years and older.

The Cultural Hub at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, 548 New South Head Road, Double Bay, Thursday 4 August 2022, 6:00pm-8:00pm

Cost: $18 (includes refreshments) Book here.

Have your say about our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

In 2021 Woollahra Council began developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at the Reflect level to guide and drive our reconciliation efforts as a Council. It is a scoping and research document which outlines the steps that Council would need to take to prepare itself for reconciliation initiatives in successive RAPs. Developing a Reflect RAP demonstrates Council’s commitment to understanding and working with the local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.

Click here to download our draft ‘Reflect’ RAP

Help us shape the final plan by providing your feedback in a short survey before Thursday 25 August 2022.